AP Art History : Asian 2D Art

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Art History

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Answering Other Questions About Asian 2 D Art

During the Tokugawa shogunate, Japan carried out an isolationist policy; however, the Japanese allowed trade with the __________, which led to the inflow of Prussian Blue pigments. The deep blue is characteristic of many Japanese woodblock prints, such as The Great Wave Off Kaganawa by Katsushika Hokusai.

Possible Answers:

Prussians

Austrians

Dutch

Americans

English

Correct answer:

Dutch

Explanation:

The Dutch had quite an influence in Japan during this period; the Japanese adopted the "Dutch Learning," or Rangaku, philosophy to better understand Western European technological advances. Though the English did have some influence in Japan, the Dutch were far more influential in trade, ideology, and religion.

Example Question #3 : Answering Other Questions About Asian 2 D Art

Great wave off kanagawa2

The work shown here depicts which Japanese geographical feature?

Possible Answers:

The Island of Hokkaido

The Sea of Japan

Iwo Jima

Mount Fuji

Correct answer:

Mount Fuji

Explanation:

Kanagawa oki nama ura (Under the Wave off Kanagawa) is from a series of forty-six woodblock prints by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai depicting different images of the largest and most iconic mountain in Japan, Mount Fuji, called Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, and which had an additional ten added after its significant popularity. Mount Fuji is placed in the low point of the waves which are tossing around fishing boats, and is recognizable for its volcanic dome shape.

Image accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Katsushika_Hokusai,_published_by_Nishimuraya_Yohachi_(Eijudō)_-_Under_the_Wave_off_Kanagawa_(Kanagawa-oki_nami-ura),_also_known_as_the_Great_Wave,_from_the_series_T..._-_Google_Art_Project.jpg

Example Question #3 : Answering Other Questions About Asian 2 D Art

Great wave off kanagawa2

Based on the composition of the work shown here, it can be inferred that the artist views nature as ___________________.

Possible Answers:

inimical to tranquility in human life

chaotic and threatening, but nonetheless majestic

something to be dominated by human beings

sublime and beautiful in every way

Correct answer:

chaotic and threatening, but nonetheless majestic

Explanation:

The main structure of the painting is a massive storm wave tossing small ships at sea, which is why Katsushika Hokusai’s work is titled Kanagawa oki nama ura (Under the Wave off Kanagawa). Despite this chaotic foreground scene, and its sense of destruction, the image of Mount Fuji framed by the wave also shows nature as something awe-inspiring and majestic.

Image accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Katsushika_Hokusai,_published_by_Nishimuraya_Yohachi_(Eijudō)_-_Under_the_Wave_off_Kanagawa_(Kanagawa-oki_nami-ura),_also_known_as_the_Great_Wave,_from_the_series_T..._-_Google_Art_Project.jpg

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors